News Briefs - Week of 6/12

HUNTERSVILLE – Shane Killebrew organized and managed the building and placing of information bulletin boards in the Coulwood Community Park to receive his Eagle Scout Award

He received the highest honor in Boy Scouts recently during a Court of Honor ceremony held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Shane, son of Gwen and Sonny Killebrew of Huntersville, is a senior at Lake Norman Charter High School. He has participated in many of the school’s plays. After attending North Carolina Theater Conference, he was offered a scholarship to Gardner-Webb University.

After graduation, Shane will serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Upon returning from his mission, Shane plans on attending BYU Idaho.

Shane is a second-degree black belt in Te Kwon Do, a level-one instructor, and has won the North Carolina state championship in sparing.

Tarte to hold legislative town hall June 20

CORNELIUS – N.C. Sen. Jeff Tarte will discuss pending legislation and other issues within his district at a town hall meeting during the short legislative session.

The event takes place 7-8:30 p.m. June 20 at Huntersville Town Hall, 101 Huntersville-Concord Road, Huntersville.

The town hall meeting is open to the public. RSVP to Staff@JeffTarte.com so space can be provided.

Marcus campaign hits $100K raised mark

DAVIDSON – Natasha Marcus has raised more than $100,000 as of June 1 for her N.C. House 98 campaign.

The Committee to Elect Natasha Marcus has raised $100,360.52 from 488 individual donors.

“I am as proud of the number of people who have already given their support to our campaign as I am the amount of money we have raised thus far,” Marcus said. “People are frustrated with Raleigh and the way our state has been run in recent years. Our campaign to fully fund and support public education, create jobs and sustainable economic prosperity, and return common sense and balance to Raleigh has widespread support.”

Marcus is the Democratic nominee to fill the open seat in the 2014 state legislative race. She is a former attorney and mother of two.

Public to speak about proposed subdivision

CORNELIUS – Developers postponed a public hearing until June 16 for their rezoning application for a proposed subdivision on Bailey Road.

M/I Homes is requesting a rezoning to allow for a 94-lot conservation subdivision with approximately 40 percent open space across from Hough High School. A conservation subdivision is a green development strategy to preserve open space and natural areas in residential housing developments.

The property borders the Town of Davidson district along the Bailey Springs neighborhood, which is also a conservation subdivision.

Anyone from the public is invited to speak on the matter.

Board supports Common Core, medication funding

DAVIDSON – Davidson commissioners passed two resolutions June 10 that support the opposite of what state legislators are proposing.

The board showed support for Common Core, the set of standards approved by the majority of the states outlining the skills students should have after each grade level. The N.C. House and Senate have taken stances toward repealing it before the next school year.

Commissioners Stacey Anderson and Beth Cashion said it was important to note the standards don’t outline what to teach but are skill sets that provide a student an easier transition if they move to another state. Cashion said she worries that if repealed effective July 1, North Carolina students would have “ungoverned education” for a year until another decision is made.

The two commissioners were also adamant about supporting N.C. mental health medication funding without prior authorization requirements. Anderson said there is a proposal to cut the funding in the budget that could be detrimental. Mayor John Woods said mental health is a focus in the community, and they have already seen the need through the new mental health facility.

Both resolutions passed unanimously.

Leaders salute champions, business incubator

DAVIDSON – The Davidson town board recognized the W.A. Hough High and Community School of Davidson girls’ soccer teams June 10 to congratulate them on their recent state championship wins.

Mayor John Woods said athletics teaches a person how to play the game, handle adversity and help everyone succeed on the team.

They also congratulated the town’s green business incubator, Project for Innovation, Energy and Sustainability (PiES), which earned the Centralina Council of Governments Excellence Award in “Growing the Economy.”

PiES helps budding green businesses get off the ground with the hope they will grow into larger companies and stay in Davidson. It is a public-private partnership led by Executive Director Kathleen Rose.

Davidson approves 2015-16 budget

DAVIDSON – Town commissioners unanimously passed their 2015-16 fiscal year budget June 10.

Citing the amount of work the town board and staff have been doing since the beginning of the year, commissioners didn’t have any discussion prior to the vote other than to thank Finance Director Cindy Jones for her work.

The $9.36 million budget keeps the tax rate at $0.35 per $100 valuation, but does have an increase to the stormwater fees to fund maintenance and repair costs.

The budget also includes funding for the fire department and emergency personnel, as well as raises for commissioners and merit raises for staff. Trash and recycling services will stay the same.

Raptor center treats 18,000th patient

HUNTERSVILLE: The Jim Arthur Raptor Medical Center at the Carolina Raptor Center admitted its 18,000th patient on May 30.

The osprey, named “18 Grand,” was found slightly underweight with minor feather damage after being caught in a fishing line in Lake Murray, S.C.

Last year, about 1,000 injured or orphaned raptors were brought to Carolina Raptor Center, and almost 70 percent of those birds were released back into the wild after rehabilitation.

Since its arrival, 18 Grand was moved into a flight cage with other birds. At first, it stayed on the ground and was not flying, but has improved.

The center released the bird June 9 at Lake Norman.

The Carolina Raptor Center is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Commissioners discuss police annex’s future

HUNTERSVILLE – Town commissioners discussed the next step June 2 for the Robert B. Blythe Building (former police department building) annex on Gilead Road at a town board meeting.

The board is looking at different options for the annexed, doublewide building that stands next to the former police department. The building used to be a dentist office and needs several repairs.

“One company has expressed interest in renting the location, but this has been on the backburner,” Town Manager Greg Ferguson said, noting they need to consider how much the building is worth.

Commissioners agreed to revisit the project after 12 months.

A news item in the June 6-12 edition of The Herald Weekly identified the wrong building they were talking about.